When you visit our site, we use services provided by Tempest, a product of Say Media, Inc., for content delivery and ad selection, including personalized digital ads. Say Media and its partners use technology such as cookies to customize your site experience, analyze website traffic, deliver content, and measure the effectiveness of advertisements.

By continuing to use this site, you consent to the use of cookies. To learn more about cookies and how to disable them, view our Cookie Policy.

By clicking I Agree on this screen you agree that Say Media and its partners may process your personal data for the purposes of information storage and access; personalization; ad selection, delivery, and reporting; content selection, delivery and reporting; and measurement. For more information please view our Privacy Policy.

Review: NW Alpine Belay Jacket

Our belay jacket pick for versatile durability

By Julie Ellison
, Mar 2, 2016

Performance

For a slim-but-warm jacket that’s at home 400 feet up a big wall in a snowstorm and belaying single-pitch ice routes in single-digit temps, look no further than this “everything you need, nothing you don’t” piece from NW Alpine. Testers were impressed by the amount of insulating heat in such a compressible package: “With a heavy baselayer and a standard fleece midlayer, I could handle standing still in temps below 20°, which can’t be said for some fatter puffies.” Designers optimized warmth and minimized bulk (packs down to cantaloupe size) by putting four-ounce PrimaLoft One in the torso, where you need a bigger insulating boost, and three-ounce PrimaLoft One in the shoulders and hood, where your body needs less warming power. The bomb-proof 70-denier nylon shell was a standout feature on this belay jacket, as it stood up to repeated rock abrasion. Elastic cuffs were low-profile enough to layer smoothly under gloves. Testers loved the drop-tail hem and oversized helmet-compatible hood. Ding: A non-athletic fit felt a little bulky on slimmer testers.

Conclusion

A high-end, versatile, and warm synthetic puffy that’s trustworthy in any condition with a bargain-basement price. Testers chose it again and again because of its warmth, toughness, and minimal packed size.